Asmindo eyes US$60 million from furniture exports to China

The Indonesian Furniture and Handicraft Industry Association (Asmindo) has set a target of furniture exports worth US$60 million to China this year, or an increase by ten percent if compared with those in the previous year, Asmindo chairman Ambar Tjahyono said here on Friday.

"We have set a higher increase this year. We even hope, if possible, our furniture exports would reach US$100 million," Ambar Tjahyono, who were here to attend a furniture trade exhibition, said.

About 40 Indonesian furniture businessmen and hundreds of others from China and other Asian countries were attending the 22nd Shenzhen International Furniture Exhibition (SIFE) being held here from March 19 to 22, 2008.

He said the Chinese market was open wide to Indonesia`s furniture so that Asmindo`s ten percent target was something reasonable.

Indonesian businessmen who were taking part in the exhibition said that Indonesia`s furniture and handicraft products attracted Chinese buyers.

"They are particularly interested in products with characters of Indonesian origin," he said.

He said that regardless of the fact that human resources and furniture technology in China was already advanced, Chinese consumers still had high interest in Indonesia`s furniture and handicraft products, particularly those with ethnic characters.

Tjahyono said ...